Tue.May 16, 2023

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How Walmart+ SVP Plans to Get ‘Most of America’ to Join the Membership Program

Retail TouchPoints

The debut of the Walmart+ membership program in September 2020 was a significant departure for the retailer. “We spent 60 years democratizing every asset and every experience — everyone, no matter who you are, gets the same everyday low price and experience,” said Chris Cracchiolo, SVP and General Manager of Walmart+ at Walmart in a recent webinar. “Membership is a bit of a different variable in that equation.

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Fashion recommerce on the rise – Afterpay report

Inside Retail

Australian shoppers are increasingly buying and selling second-hand clothing items and want more sustainable, gender-diverse and inclusive brands, according to a new report by Afterpay. The rise of recommerce – the selling of previously owned products – is evident with 67 per cent of respondents saying they had bought or sold second-hand clothing items.

Fashion 260
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Is Retail Media the New Walled Garden and is that a Bad Thing?

Retail TouchPoints

With the proliferation of retail media properties, it’s beginning to feel like the digital economy is producing walled gardens faster than baby rabbits. This is actually a healthy development. These walled gardens don’t necessarily carry the baggage of the big original ones, and even when they do, it’s a net positive to the broader marketing ecosystem.

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Artificial intelligence in Retail: Great ways to use it

Tokinomo

Everybody has heard about ChatGPT. While this is the most well-known use of artificial intelligence, this technology is quickly spreading in all industries. AI has been growing in importance in various industries due to its ability to process and analyze large amounts of data, make predictions and recommendations, automate repetitive tasks, and improve overall efficiency.

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A Roadmap For Modernization: How To Break Free From Your Monolith Before July 31, 2026

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

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Home Depot Posts 4.2% Sales Decline Following Years of ‘Unprecedented Growth’

Retail TouchPoints

The Home Depot posted its weakest quarter in years, with Q1 2023 seeing a 4.5% comparable sales decline year-over-year. Total sales were $37.3 billion , down 4.2% from Q1 2022. The declines were attributed to a slowdown following three years of “unprecedented growth” in which the retailer boosted its sales by over $47 billion , according to President and CEO Ted Decker.

Consumer 278
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Mathers parent snaps up Bobux from receivership

Inside Retail

Australian company Munro Footwear Group (MFG) has rescued New Zealand kids’ shoe company Bobux International from receivership. MFG owns and sells brands including Mountfords, Midas, Mollini, Mathers, Williams, Cinori, Ziera, Colorado and Diana Ferrari. It operates more than 290 stores in Australia and employs 2500 staff. In a LinkedIn announcement, Bobux International said MFG has a “shared passion for a customer-centric approach” which aligned well with the brand.

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Ikea Australia trials electric delivery tuk-tuks in Sydney

Inside Retail

Ikea Australia is trialling making customer deliveries in metro areas by two electric tuk-tuks as it looks for ways to reach zero emissions company-wide. The two electric tuk-tuks, both powered by 9kWh swappable batteries, will deliver parcels within a 10km radius of Ikea Tempe until August 16. Tiffany Mosura-Lesnock, manager for Ikea Tempe, said electric vehicles are “shaping the future of delivery” around the globe.

Planning 246
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Nike, Crocs Hit Bumps in Sustainability Efforts

Retail TouchPoints

Prompted by consumer demand, retailers have been making bigger commitments to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, but some are facing challenges in the environmental aspect. Crocs has announced that it will push back its timeline to reach net-zero carbon emissions by a decade to 2040, while Nike is facing a lawsuit that accuses the retailer of greenwashing by “falsely and misleadingly” marketing certain products as sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Consumer 277
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Stylerunner GM Ryan Edelmuth leaves Accent Group to head startup

Inside Retail

Activewear brand Stylerunner’s GM Ryan Edelmuth has stepped back from the business to lead high chair startup, Catchy. Founded in 2012, Stylerunner is a multi-brand retailer that sells luxe and premium activewear from global and emerging brands and is owned by the Accent Group. In a LinkedIn post, Edelmuth described his time with Stylerunner as a “career highlight” and added: “After an incredible nine years at Accent Group, last week was my final week.” He said the highlight of his time wi

ATS 246
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Sprinter launches its most ambitious project, a megastore where shopping is a total experience

Retail Focus

Sprinter, the multi-brand sports retailer, opens its most ambitious store to date in Parque Comercial Alcora Plaza de Alcorcón, in Madrid. A great location, which see the launch of a new store format and concept focussed more on experiences, where the consumer will be able to try the products and have the advice of specialists to find the best products for their needs.

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Humans + Agents = Rethinking Enterprise Commerce with AI

AI agents already analyze trends, draft content, and trigger actions across leading commerce platforms. Yet most organizations still rely on workflows built for human‑only teams, losing speed, margin, and customer loyalty. Humans + Agents: Rethinking Enterprise Commerce in the Age of AI Collaboration shows how to close that gap. In one concise read you’ll see where agent gains surface first, how early adopters prove ROI, and which lean controls keep innovation moving without risking data or bran

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From sky high to ruffled feathers – behind Allbirds’ struggle to diversify

Inside Retail

Global footwear retailer Allbirds has continued to struggle since going public in 2021, with sales slowing and financial losses widening. But does this financial performance signify a shift in consumer preferences, or is it primarily due to a series of decisions made by the company? The certified B-Corp brand – which specialises in woollen shoes, and designed what was dubbed the world’s first zero-carbon shoe – recently announced a net loss of over US$35 million for the first quarter of 2023, up

Apparel 246
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Boohoo sees DC transforming its U.S. business

Retail Wire

Boohoo, the British online fashion retailer, is opening a distribution center in Elizabethtown, PA, its first in the U.S. The American market is Boohoo’s largest outside the UK. “Once we’re up and running in the U.S., 95% of the U.S. we will cover in three days,” said Boohoo CEO John Lyttle. “It’s a complete game changer for us.

Fashion 130
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Best & Less reports ‘inconsistent’ trading, revises profit expectations

Inside Retail

Discount apparel retailer Best & Less Group (BLG) says trading conditions were “inconsistent” through the March and April months of the second half year. In a trading update for the 19 weeks to May 14, sales were up 1.8 per cent to $221.9 million when compared to the previous corresponding period. Like-for-like sales were down 1.4 per cent while online sales fell 18.2 per cent.

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OpenAI CEO to testify before Congress

Retail Wire

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will testify today before Congress to answer questions about the role and risks of artificial intelligence to help lawmakers determine how best to regulate the technology.

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5 Tips for a Winning Category Management Strategy in 2025

Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.

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Victoria’s Secret steps into Queensland, opens at Pacific Fair

Inside Retail

Victoria’s Secret is to expand its Australian reach by opening its first full-service store in Pacific Fair, at Broadbeach, Queensland. Pacific Fair The US brand says the new store offers designs that provide customers with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The store will feature an open concept with streamlined navigation and an improved fitting-room experience.

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Hybrid work is the office norm

Retail Wire

Fifty-eight percent of companies allow office employees to work a portion of their week remotely, according to Scoop Technologies. The number of companies requiring five days in the office has declined to 42 percent, down from 49 percent three months ago.

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Why it’s time to unpack the complex world of ‘green’ packaging

Inside Retail

As today’s customers demand more sustainability, retailers are re-examining the impact of their packaging decisions, in order to remain both competitive and cost efficient. Globally, retailers are prioritising a fundamental re-think of their delivery chains, coming up with new ways to address the waste challenge. Packaging matters to customers (a lot) Today, customers want to receive their goods in sustainable packaging (namely without plastic) with 73 per cent reporting they intend to cha

Returns 130
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Retail sales increased in April

Retail Wire

U.S. retail sales in April grew 0.4 percent, according to the Commerce Department. Sales for March were revised downward to 0.7 percent from 0.6 percent. The growth in retail sales and jobs in April suggested that the underlining economy remains strong.

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Cut Costs & Complexity: Smarter Fulfillment for Home, Furniture & DIY Brands

Late deliveries. Split shipments. Spiraling freight costs. For home, furniture, and DIY brands, fulfillment has never been more complex—or more critical. This report outlines how a smarter, AI-ready order management system (OMS) helps you reduce shipping costs, streamline project-based fulfillment, and ensure accurate inventory across every channel.

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How microservices are serving up smaller, tastier e-commerce morsels

Inside Retail

You’re at brunch in a trendy Melbourne cafe, and you order a deconstructed meal (like the true hipster you are). You’re presented with a plate of individual ingredients – a piece of bread, some avocado, a poached egg, a little pile of spices – each one carefully prepared and presented on its own. That’s what microservices are like for e-commerce.

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Target seeks to establish grocery cred

Retail Wire

Americans are reducing discretionary purchases to focus on everyday staples. Target is looking to capture a greater share of those purchases with an increased emphasis on its grocery business, including developing its own unique private-label items. Groceries account for 21 percent of Target’s sales, compared to rival Walmart’s 60 percent.

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Target US aims to simplify returns. Here’s why that’s easier said than done

Inside Retail

Target US is making shopping easier for customers with the option to make product returns right from their cars at no extra cost. This is one of the latest enhancements to the retailer’s popular ‘Drive Up’ service. The new returns service is already available at over 500 stores across the US and is expected to reach all 2000 Target locations in the next few months.

Returns 130
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Hublot’s social responsibility partnerships

Retail Focus

With the world becoming more eco-conscious with each year that passes, both consumers and companies are taking action to promote sustainability and ethical conduct. This might involve analysing product materials and packaging or contributing towards environmental endeavours. Luxury watch brand Hublot is one such business that is prioritising social responsibility.

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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“I hate rules”: How designer Mariam Seddiq is disrupting high-end fashion

Inside Retail

Since launching her label in 2015, Australian designer Mariam Seddiq has forged her own path in the fashion industry, embracing diversity and gaining acclaim for her colourful and architectural garments. Ahead of her runway show at this year’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, we spoke with Seddiq about her creative process and what’s next for her business.

Fashion 130
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Century 21 reopens flagship store in NYC

Retail Dive

The company was an off-price staple for 60 years before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

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Red Rooster, Cold Rock stores charged with child labour law breaches

Inside Retail

Victoria’s wage watchdog has levelled hundreds of new charges against franchises accused of breaching child labour laws, just weeks before the state overhauls its permit system. On Monday, ABC‘s 7.30 reported Wage Inspectorate Victoria is pressing 355 criminal charges against the Red Rooster Wodonga franchise, whose proprietors are accused of employing 10 children under the age of 15, without the relevant permit, on 168 occasions.

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Wayfair improves data analytics to trim last mile costs

Retail Dive

The online furniture retailer has sharpened its process for determining whether items should be delivered in-house or via third parties.

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Missing or damaged online deliveries cost $224.3 million, research reveals

Inside Retail

Research has found that nearly a third of Australian consumers have had a parcel stolen, lost or damaged in a 12-month period – including instances of doorstep parcel theft. Research by Australian fintech company Ship-Safely found that about 82 per cent of Australians made an online purchase last year spending up to $63.8 billion. Between May 2021 and April last year, $224.3 million worth of goods went missing or were damaged with the problem worst in Adelaide, followed by Sydney, Brisbane and M

Shipping 130
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How DTC brands fared in Q1

Retail Dive

Some were able to stymie losses during the period, while others sank deeper into the red as revenues fell.

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Customer Service Is Like Dating

Hyken

I like the title of this article, but perhaps a more appropriate title might be: Customer Service Is Like Being Married. The buying cycle for a customer typically includes a little research, talking to a salesperson, making the purchase, and whatever happens after the sale. This can include follow-up from the salesperson, dealing with customer service for a problem, or any interaction you have with the company or brand after the sale is made.

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Parsons hosts digital Roblox-branded fashion showcase

Retail Dive

Student designers will display and sell their virtual apparel creations in conjunction with a new course collaboration aimed at exploring metaverse trends.

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SEO vs. PPC: Which Strategy Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.